NEWCASTLE – The Homann family has found at least part of its faith in humanity restored.
Riana Homann lost her cellphone on November 16, on a routine shopping expedition to the Newcastle Mall.
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She only noticed the absence of the device some hours later.
Distressed that the phone had somehow been lifted from her handbag, Mrs Homann and her daughter turned to tracking technology to find the cellphone.
“We tracked the phone to the mall’s main entrance, where a crowd of people were sitting. We were within two metres of the phone, but could not identify which individual had it.”
Then the phone lost signal, and Mrs Homann believed the device gone for good.
In a final desperate attempt, the Homann family used remote technology to place a message on the lost cellphone, with a contact number.
The next morning, the family received a remarkable call from the same phone.
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“A person made contact to inform us he had picked up the phone, and wanted to return it. My husband identified the person as Henry Bongani Zungu, and immediately arranged a meeting.”
Henry works at a local supermarket.
He explained how he had left work, and near Blackrock Casino, found the cellphone on the road opposite the Audi showroom.
Henry held onto the device and called the provided number when he could.
“Henry duly returned the phone to us. I cannot believe that in these dangerous and dishonest times, a person does the honourable thing.”
The Newcastle Advertiser met Henry at his workplace on Tuesday afternoon, where the surprised resident expressed pride at his good deed.
For Henry, it was all in a day’s work.
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For the Homann family, it was proof that not every person and place in South Africa had to be tainted by evil.
“Thank you, Henry!”
